A Returner’s Magic Should Be Special - Chapter 49

Episode 49. Evernaton (1)

Chapter 11. Evernaton

“I’m going to lose my mind!”
Whoosh!
She hurled the quill across the desk. Ink splattered everywhere, soaking the documents beneath.
Romantica closed her eyes and let out a long sigh.
“Why do I have to be the one running a trading company?”
The role Romantica had taken on in the Shadow World was that of a company master for a modest merchant house with decidedly poor finances.
As its master, her Quest was to run the business, improve its finances, and bring it back from the brink of collapse.
Romantica leaned back in her chair and rocked it idly.
‘I thought I was done with all this years ago.’
The Eru Baronial Family, Romantica’s house, had been merchants from birth.
Not just any merchants—the Eru family was among the most prominent merchant houses in the Frilechia Kingdom, itself renowned as an economic powerhouse. With wealth overflowing, they’d even purchased a noble title, and their fortune was beyond question.
Romantica had learned everything from her grandfather, a merchant through and through. Economics, management, accounting, even rhetoric—she’d mastered nearly all the skills a trader needed.
She’d also gained practical experience by running personal ventures with only a minimal stake, so her field knowledge was solid.
This modest company should have posed no challenge whatsoever, and in just four days, Romantica had improved its finances considerably through sheer acumen.
Though still an ordinary house, the company was growing rapidly under her guidance.
‘So far, so good.’
Her background knowledge had certainly helped her Clear the Quest with speed.
But what came after was the problem.
She’d cleared the initial Quest to stabilize the company’s finances, but since then, she’d received no new Quest at all.
As a result, Romantica’s nerves were on edge.
There was another reason for it as well.
“Where the hell did Dezir and Fram disappear to?! Why am I the only one isolated here?!”
Romantica struck the desk with her fist, voice sharp with frustration.
After entering the Shadow World, Romantica and her companions had been separated. At first she hadn’t worried—she’d assumed they’d reunite soon enough.
But it took only ten days for that assumption to prove catastrophically wrong. Even though eight days had passed since entering the Shadow World, Romantica hadn’t glimpsed Dezir, Fram, or even Azest.
She was in a territory called Kerban. She’d even sent people to search every inch of the region, hoping her companions might be somewhere nearby, but not a trace of them had been found.
No Party Members within reach, no new Quests appearing—the situation had completely stalled.
Progress had ground to a halt entirely.
‘What kind of mess is this?’
After fuming for a long while, Romantica finally collapsed onto her desk with a sigh.
‘Alone like this, I’m going mad with worry. If Dezir were here at least, I’d feel so much better…….’
Romantica’s mind stopped dead. Without thinking, the stream of consciousness had conjured Dezir’s image.
“Good grief, what was I just thinking?!”
Romantica’s face flushed crimson.
‘Why on earth did that demon of all people come to mind?!’
She wrapped her burning cheeks in her palms, cradling them.
She was fully aware of how foolish she must look. But she felt like she’d scream if she didn’t do something to contain herself. If anyone were to find out that merely thinking of Dezir had made her blush like this…….
Creak.
“Madam Company Master!”
“Aaaahhhhh!”
Romantica lost her balance and toppled backward.
Thud!
Her head struck the floor. Sharp pain bloomed across her skull.
She scrambled to her feet, clutching the back of her head, tears streaming down her face as she rounded on the young man before her.

“Emil, how many times do I have to tell you—knock before coming in!”
“I’m so, so, so sorry!”
“How many times do I have to say it?!”
“I sincerely apologize, I sincerely apologize!”
His excessive apologies had become almost embarrassing.
Romantica steadied herself and set the chair back on its legs, then sat down again.
“So, what brings you rushing in at this hour of the morning?”
“Ah, well, you see—the price of those textiles I purchased under your instructions has skyrocketed!”
“Is that so? I had a rough sense they’d climb around this time, anyway.”
“H-how on earth did you predict that……?”
“Why make a fuss reporting something like that? I told you they’d rise, didn’t I?”
“True enough. It’s just…… I found it so remarkable that the prices climbed exactly as you said…….”
“It’s Market Analysis, nothing more. That’s precisely why I keep demanding you gather intelligence—because once you master that, picking profitable goods becomes child’s play.”
“Though it’s not quite as simple as you make it sound…….”
“That’s fair. But it’s only possible because I’m exceptionally capable.”
“Ha ha, well, when someone else says something like that, it sounds impressive, but when you say it yourself, it loses a bit of charm…….”
Crack!
“I-I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!”
There was no way to hate the man.
Romantica sighed and spoke.
“So? Is that all you came to tell me?”
“Ah, no. There’s one more thing. Ahem.”
Emil cleared his throat formally, arranging his features into what he evidently believed was a grave expression.
“A while back, you asked me to investigate matters related to your expansion into the Holy City, remember?”
“Yes, I did.”
Gotheim, the Holy City.
Before it was consumed by the Shadow World, the Artemis Holy Nation had been a superpower.
As its capital, Gotheim was densely populated with an enormous population, and naturally vast quantities of goods moved through it.
Following the principle that all true commerce must operate in deep waters, Romantica had formulated a plan to expand into the nation’s capital. Of course, it had nothing whatsoever to do with any Quest—merely a means to pass the time.
“My associates have investigated, and it seems the Holy City isn’t a place to conduct business right now.”
“Really? Based on the volume of goods flowing through, I thought it would be quite promising.”
“The tax rates are prohibitive, and besides, strange rumors are circulating that frighten people away from purchasing goods. Even the other trading companies are withdrawing.”
“Strange rumors?”
Emil nodded. He swallowed hard before continuing.
“There’s apparently an evil spirit that captures people wandering alone, skins them alive, and devours them.”
Pft!
Romantica covered her mouth as she laughed, and Emil’s shoulders sagged.
“I knew you’d scoff at this.”
“If people have time to spread such gossip, they should be working instead.”
“But no, listen—it’s serious. I don’t know if there’s a real evil spirit, but there actually is a kidnapper. Mothers have been spotted wandering frantically, searching for their missing children.”
“Hmm…… so there’s a genuine cause for the evil spirit rumors to take root.”
“Moreover, the state has begun imposing excessive taxes under the guise of preventing divine judgment, and now they’re dragging away anyone who dares criticize the Holy Emperor, so the Holy City is in terrible straits.”
“With conditions like that, many would be fleeing the city?”
“Yes, countless people are abandoning the Holy City and becoming Vagrants, wandering through other territories.”
Vagrants.
Romantica seized on that word. She picked up a stray quill and jotted a note on her documents.
“Vagrants, then…… regardless of anything else, I need to keep careful watch on that. This territory isn’t far from the Holy City, so quite a number would be drawn here.”
“No, that won’t happen. The Vagrants won’t come to our territory. The lord has issued a strict decree forbidding their entry.”
Romantica’s enthusiasm deflated.
“Ugh…… the lord’s a miser.”
“He’s being prudent. If Vagrants arrived, the territory’s security would collapse and there’d be numerous disadvantages. It’s better to refuse them.”
‘Hmm, is that how people think in this age?’
Though she’d have liked to argue the point, Romantica held her tongue. If such thinking was universal in this era, a few words from her wouldn’t change such deeply held values.
“So you’re just letting all these homeless Vagrants freeze to death in this bitter winter?”
“No. Apparently, one territory to the north accepts all Vagrants who come—every last one of them.”
“What’s the name of that territory?”
“It’s the Evernaton territory.”
“Evernaton? I feel like I’ve heard that name somewhere before.”
“Yes. It’s quite famous—the territory holding the front lines against Esteban’s invasions. The lord is famous too; he’s remarkably principled for his station. Moreover, during his time at the Holy City, he led the war against the Hebrion Empire to victory and expanded the territory beyond the Nammore River. Though he’s since fallen from the Holy Emperor’s favor and been reassigned to Evernaton.”
Romantica folded her arms. Something smelled off. It was a merchant’s instinct.
“Hey, bring me a Map.”
Whoosh!
Romantica spread out the Map that Emil retrieved and pointed to each territory in turn, counting the names on her fingers.
“Evernaton…… Evernaton…… there it is.”
A modest-sized domain bordering Esteban’s territory.
The moment Romantica confirmed Evernaton’s location, a notification chimed.

-You have entered the Main Quest: “The Survival of Evernaton”.
Resolve the two problems facing Evernaton Domain.

-Esteban. (Progress: 100%)
You have concluded a ceasefire with Bloodclaw, the chieftain of Esteban’s hawk tribe. They no longer regard Evernaton Domain as an enemy.
-Vagrant. (Progress: 30%)
Security has stabilized considerably, and crime has diminished. Citizens move about the streets with confidence. Vagrants remain under strict supervision and refrain from criminal acts.

‘Using a merchant’s eye to investigate the capital—recognizing the vagrants’ presence and thus pinpointing Evernaton as the domain they converge upon was the condition to trigger this Main Quest!’
Romantica felt a thrill run through her.
‘Since the Quest progress is already substantial, they must be there. I’m certain of it.’
At last, she had found a thread to follow. Romantica shoved her chair back and stood.
“Listen, Emil. There’s something I need you to do immediately. Scout Evernaton Domain for me.”
“Pardon?”
Emil’s face twisted with confusion at the sudden demand.
“I’m thinking of doing business in Evernaton.”
“What! How can you decide something like that on the spot? Do you know how far it is from here?”
“Then pack our things first. We can investigate once we arrive.”
…….
Romantica spoke with absolute conviction, but Emil could only wonder whether this could reasonably be called a preliminary investigation.

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